Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55
The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata
मार्गशुक्लचतुर्थ्यां तु वर्षं यावन्मुनीश्वरा । क्षपयेदेकभक्तेन नक्तेनाथ द्वितीयकम् ॥ ५५ ॥
mārgaśuklacaturthyāṃ tu varṣaṃ yāvanmunīśvarā | kṣapayedekabhaktena naktenātha dvitīyakam || 55 ||
Wahai para resi yang utama, bermula pada hari Caturthī (hari keempat) dalam paruh terang bulan Mārgaśīrṣa, hendaklah nazar ini dipelihara genap setahun—pada siang hari makan sekali sahaja (ekabhakta), dan amalan kedua dilakukan sebagai nakta, yakni berpuasa pada siang lalu makan pada malam.
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada and assembled sages)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It prescribes a disciplined year-long vrata aligned to a specific lunar tithi, emphasizing self-restraint (upavāsa) as a dharmic means to purify conduct and stabilize devotion.
By regulating food and daily routine through ekabhakta and nakta, the practitioner reduces sensory distraction and sustains steady devotional focus—an applied form of bhakti supported by vrata.
It uses tithi- and month-based timing (lunar calendar practice connected to Jyotiṣa/Vedāṅga) and specifies fasting modes (vrata-vidhi) such as ekabhakta and nakta.